The band with one of the craziest names out there are back with a brand new record release. I say band, Warrington Runcorn… is actually the brainchild of Gordon Chapman-Fox who creates eerie, cinematic soundscapes using a combination of new technology and retro equipment.
This is his fourth release and builds on the themes of his earlier releases.
His first album from 2021, ‘Interim Report, March 1979’, reflected on the swan song of post-war urban planning in the UK. This was followed in 2022 by ‘People and Industry’ which celebrated the workers and industry that was booming around Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn in the late 70s.
Later in 2022, Chapman-Fox released ‘Districts, Roads, Open Space’ which focussed on the social isolations of New Towns, and this latest release, ‘The Nations Most Central Location’, explores the north-south divide and reflects on 40 years of broken 'levelling up' promises.
Honestly, I found out the above from reading sleeve notes and doing some research as there isn’t anything obvious to me to indicate the themes via the music itself as it is all instrumental electronica.
What I can say is that this is probably my favourite Warrington Runcorn… release. It is 40 minutes of atmospheric noise that wouldn’t sound out of place as the soundtrack to a sci-fi film.
If you fancy some cinematic, widescreen electronica, beautifully designed and packaged then the album is available on this stunning solid orange from Rough Trade for £25.
Tracks To Try: ‘Just Off The M56 (J12)’, ‘Rocksavage’, ‘Daresbury Laboratory’, ‘Thelwall Viaduct’, ‘Busway’.